“You’ve been to five of these? What is it like?”

“Oh, well, of course I have to stay here helping guests most of the time, but they let us go out on shifts to enjoy, and it’s amazing,” she gushed. “Absolutely beautiful. Almost magical, really. It’s like for one night every year, this place is transported back in time to its pre-revolution splendor and excess. And it’s like you can almost see Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI and their court, walking the halls. The ball itself takes place in the luxurious Hall of Mirrors—that’s the most famous ballroom in the world.”

“The one with all the gold—right?—and those huge crystal chandeliers? I’ve seen it in pictures!”

She rolled a curl in the front of Diana’s face. “That’s right. It’s beautiful, no? You’ll also be able to tour some of the other rooms. Not all of them, of course. I’ve been here five years and even I have not seen all of them. There are 2,300, all told.”

Diana gasped.

“Of course you’ll be able to walk the gardens, and there will be entertainment everywhere. Drinks and buffet throughout the night. And of course, fireworks!” she laughed. “It’s really so much fun. I do hope you enjoy.”

“I’m sure I will,” she said, her heart fluttering under the cape that Colette had laid over her chest to protect the dress.

Colette carefully painted Diana’s eyelids and applied what looked like a bright red lipstick to her lips. Yet another thing Diana wasn’t used to—she usually wore colorless lip gloss and little makeup—but she repeated her mantra—Let it go, just enjoy—over and over in her head as Colette finished and dabbed her face with a big powder puff.

“I think we are in business!” Colette said with a smile, removing the cape with great flourish. She took Diana’s hand and led her to a full-length mirror. “Ladies and Gentlemen of the court, may I present the distinguished Mademoiselle Diana St. James, from New York City, the United States of America!”

Diana blinked at herself in the mirror. Just as the last time she’d glimpsed herself in the mirror in the hotel, she hardly recognized herself. This time, though, it was in a good way. Her hair was piled up upon her head in ringlets, and several curls draped loose over her bare collarbones and neck. The makeup was definitely dramatic—the dark colors making her brown eyes pop, and her lips looked fuller. Her skin shimmered slightly with the light powder. Collette had even applied the trademark Marie Antoinette birthmark to her cheek.

“What do you think?” Collette asked hopefully.

“Oh, it’s beautiful. You’re a miracle worker!” Diana said with a smile.

“Well, it was a pleasure,” Colette said, handing her the folio that would include her bill. “Oops! I forgot! You’re not done yet. The piece de resistance.”

She lifted a delicate gold mask and placed it over Diana’s eyes.

“Ah. Yes, perfect.”

Now, she had the air of mystery. Also . . . bonus, it covered her crow’s feet.